A veteran of the team, Flood played a key role in helping Ireland qualify for the Games for the first time after missing two previous opportunities. The World Series, spanning eight venues globally, is mostly available only online, keeping the sport out of sight for casual fans.
At the end of this month, 24 members from the more than 130-strong Team Ireland contingent will head to Paris to compete for rugby Sevens gold. The women’s tournament, featuring Ireland against Australia, Great Britain, and South Africa in Pool B, will be held from July 28-30 at the Stade de France.
“We need to get the country behind Sevens a bit more and hopefully the Olympics does that for us,” the 27-year-old told the sources. “It is a very hard sport to find to watch because it’s on in different time zones, it’s on rugbypass [TV]. Hopefully this gives it the platform to start growing in our country.”
Flood highlighted the sport’s appeal, saying, “It is an incredible sport to watch, it’s gruesome to play but it’s so incredible to watch. The Irish fans would love it because it’s an outdoor party all day and you have an incredible sport to watch. It’s like a festival vibe. It’s so intense and it’s all those X factor moments from 15s put on to the rugby field, it’s short and sharp.”
Flood, who has represented the Dublin minor football team and played 15s for Ireland, believes in the team’s potential. A win in the World Series in Perth last January has bolstered their confidence, but they remain cautious about looking too far ahead.
Currently training in Tours, France, at the same base where Andy Farrell’s Ireland side prepared for the World Cup, the team will face the USA on Thursday in a friendly match. With just 11 days until the start of their campaign, Flood’s excitement about representing her country at the Olympics is palpable.
“It’s pretty exciting to have that opportunity,” the Railway Union player continued. “Just watching the Olympics, seeing all the athletes and how it can change a nation, a game can bring a nation together, sport is so special in that way. There are enough bad things going on in the world, it’s nice to have something to look forward to.”
Reflecting on her youth, Flood added, “When I was growing up watching the Olympics, Ireland were either boxers or long-distance runners. That’s what we saw. I love GAA, it’s your roots, it gives you your values in sport and in life when you are growing up and we are extremely lucky to have that.”
